Apparatus and method for starting an engine

• US 6,725,821 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies Ip Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Botti, Jean Joseph, Warren, William S., Waters, James Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US10/047,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.28, 123/179.25, 123/179.26, 123/182.1
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/34 characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/08 for decompression, e.g. during starting; for changing compression ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/01 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/08 the gearing being of friction type
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/004 Aiding engine start by using decompression means or variable valve actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0806 Compression coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0823 Electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0874 Two or more finally actuated members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0887 the tension being a function of load

Abstract

An apparatus and method for starting an engine having a starter generator for providing a rotational force to a pulley in order to provide the necessary torque to start an engine. The starter generator also receives a rotational force to the pulley wherein the starter generator generates a current when the pulley receives the rotational force. A valve deactivation system reduces the compression in a cylinder of the engine, thereby reducing the torque required to perform a starting sequence of the engine, either permitting this apparatus to be applied to larger engines, lower ambient temperatures, or some combination thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for starting an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a) an electric machine being configured to provide a rotational force to a pulley and receive a rotational force to said pulley, said electric machine generating power when said pulley receives said rotational force;

b) a belt for frictionally engaging said pulley of said electric machine and a crankshaft pulley of said engine, said crankshaft pulley being fixedly secured to a crankshaft of said engine; and

c) a compression limiting system for limiting the compression of a cylinder of said engine when said electric machine rotates said crankshaft.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said electric machine further comprises a rotor assembly fixedly secured to a shaft mounted for rotation within said electric machine, said shaft being fixedly secured to said pulley.

3. An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a) an electric machine being mounted to said engine, said electric machine being configured to provide a rotational force to a pulley of said electric machine and being configured to receive and generate a current when a rotational force is applied to said pulley by said engine;

b) a belt being configured, dimensioned, and positioned to frictionally engage said pulley of said electric machine and a crankshaft pulley of said engine, said crankshaft pulley being fixedly secured to a crankshaft of said engine; and

c) a compression reduction system for reducing the compression in said engine when said electric machine provides a rotational force to said crankshaft pulley.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, where in said compression reduction system opens an exhaust valve in a cylinder of said engine.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said compression reduction system and said electric machine are controlled by an engine control module.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said engine control module enables the compression reduction system and places said electric machine in a motor operating mode when an engine start has been detected by said engine control module.

7. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said compression reduction system comprises a valve deactivation system which is enabled during the first few cranking revolutions of the internal combustion engine to provide a compression release by keeping at least one exhaust valve open during said first few cranking revolutions.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said valve deactivation system is enabled until the electric machine overcomes forces of the engine oil, and the internal combustion engine cranking rpm is sufficient start the internal combustion engine.

9. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said compression reduction system is operated by an engine control module that receives inputs from a plurality of sensors located throughout the vehicle in order to provide engine control module with a current vehicle status.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said engine control module enables the compression reduction system and places said electric machine in a motor operating mode when an engine start has been detected by said engine control module.

11. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said engine control module deactivates the compression reduction system and places said electric machine in a generator mode when the internal combustion engine has started.

12. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the compression in said engine is reduced by detecting the position of at least one piston within at least one cylinder of said engine when said electric machine completes a stop phase of the engine, wherein said engine control module stops a crankshaft of said engine a few degrees after top dead-center of said at lest one cylinder.

13. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said internal combustion engine is capable of being started by said electric machine at temperatures as cold as −

20 degrees Celsius without compressing captured air in at least one cylinder of said internal combustion engine.